Refrigerating machine



Jan. 8, 1935. w. ATCHISON REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 12, 1933 Inventor:

m f h .L a m 8 1 wrrw t m S 1 w H L w Patented Jan. 8, 1935 *UNITED STATES BEFRIGERATING MACHINE Leonard w. Atchlson, Schenectady, N. r., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 12, 1933, Serial No. 684,831 11 Claims. (CL 62115) My invention relates to refrigerating machines, and more particularly to cooling systems for such machines.

It is an objectof my invention to provide a refrigerating machine having a water cooling system which shall be simple and eiilcient in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a motor-driven refrigerating machine including a water-cooled motor and condenser in. which the rate of flow of cooling water is controlled in accordance with the temperature of the condenser and of the driving motor, so that overheating of either the motor or condenser is avoided.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of my invention.

For. a better understanding of my inventio reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a sectional view of a refrigcrating machine embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a refrigerating machine including a closed motor and compressor casing within which is arranged a driving motor 11 and a compressor. The compressor has a crankshaft 12 which is connected by piston rods 13 to pistons 14 arranged in cylinders 15 formed in the walls 10a of the casing 10. The stator of the motor includes suitable windings arranged in a core structure secured in contact with the wall of the casing 10, and the rotor of the mo tor is mounted on the end of the crankshaft. The crankshaft 12'is journaled in bearing 16a and a removable bearing plate 16 secured to the casing 10 by bolts 17. A crank pin 18 is providedon the end of the crankshaft 12 beyond the bearing plate 16. In order to lubricate the compressor, the crank pin 18 is arranged to drive an oil pump piston 19 operating in an oscillating cylinder 20 journaled in a bearing 21 in the bearing plate 16. 45 The cylinder 20 is provided with a port 22 which registers with an intake port 23 during the intake stroke of the piston 19, 011 being drawn up through a tube 24 from a body of oil 25 in the bottom of the casing 10 during the intakestroke. A screen 26 prevents particles of foreign matter from entering the oil pump. During the exhaust stroke, the port 22 of the cylinder 20 registers with an exhaust port (not shown) and forces the oil out into the lubricating passages of the compressor which are arranged within the shaft and the bearings in a manner well known in the art. Cylinder 20 is provided with a flat surface seated on the bearing plate 16 and is held against the bearing plate by a spring 27 arranged between the bearing 21 and a retainer 28 on a trunnion 29 of the cylinder 20. 5 Gas is drawn into the casing 10 through a suction conduit 30 and enters the cylinders 15 through intake ports controlled by spring-pressed valves 31 in the tops of the pistons 14, the cranks of the pistons being arranged 180' degrees apart. Gas 10 compressed in the cylinders 15 is exhausted through discharge ports 32 in the heads of the cylinders and enters a chamber 33 formed by securing a dome 34 to the casing 10 above the cylinders. Compressed gaseous refrigerant is dis- 15 charged in to the chamber 33 and flows from the chamber through a connection 35 into a condenser comprising a plurality of helically wound tubes 36 connected between upper and lower manifolds 37 and 38, respectively. The gaseous refrigerant cooled by circulating water is liquefied in the condenser and flows out through connection 39 and conduit 40 to a receiver or float valve chamber 41, from which it flows in regulated quantities through a conduit 42 to a header 43 of a flooded evaporator 44. The evaporator is provided with sinuous tubes 45 connected to the header for the circulation of liquid refrigerant, and refrigerant vaporized in the evaporator 44 is withdrawn by the compressor to the casing 10 from the header 43 through the suction conduit 30.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a cooling system arranged to circulate cooling water around the coils of the condenser or other v35 portion of the refrigerating machine to be cooled, around the dome into which gas is discharged from the cylinders, and for circulating the cooling water through a water jacket arranged about the cylinders and then through the walls of the 40 motor and compressor casing to cool the motor.

Referring again to Fig, 1, I have shown a hollow-walled jacket or baflle 4'1 secured to the dome In order to cool the condenser tubes 36 and the chamber 33, I provide a closed shell or casing 53 secured by bolts 54 to an annular shoulder 55 formed on the walls of the casing 10. Cooling water is admitted to the casing 53 through an inlet connection 56 which opens into the casing below the condenser and fills the casing to the level of the upper end of the baflle 47 and flows over the inner walls of the baflie 47 and over the dome 34 and thence out through the conduit 51 to the chamber-52. By this arrangement the coolest water comes in contact with the end of the condenser farthest from the discharge ports of the compressor, and the flow of water is counter to the flow of regrigerant within the tubes 36 of the condenser. The water is then discharged over the rim of the tube 49 and the warmer water cools the relatively hot dome 34 and is discharged through the conduit 51.. The baille or jacket 4'? is formed with hollow walls in order to minimize the direct transmission of heat therethrough. It will be noted that the cooling water on the outside of the bell-shaped portion 48 will be at a considerably lower temperature than that on the inner side thereof next the dome 34 which is heated by the compressed gaseous refrigerant. This double-walled jacket 4'7 is particularly desirable as it prevents the passage of heat through the walls of the bell-shaped portion of the jacket. By this arrangement, the cooling water which comes in contact with the condenser coils will have as low a temperature as possible so that greater cooling capacity is available to cool the gas which is being liquefied.

The cooling water is also available for cooling the walls of the cylinder and the motor as it flows through the chamber 52 and then to an annular chamber 57 around the motor 11 within the walls of the casing 10 provided for cooling the windings and core 46 of the motor. The arrangement of this annular space about the motor is clearly shown in Fig. 2, where it can be seen that a partition 58 is provided within the chamber 57, so that the water must flow around the motor before it is' discharged through a cooling water outlet 59. A drain plug 60 is provided at the lowermost portion'of the annular space 57 in order that the cooling water may be drained from the compressor when desired.

In order to regulate the flow of cooling water to provide the most eflicient operation of the compressor under varying conditions of load, I provide a reciprocating piston valve 61 arranged to operate within a valve cylinder 62 which is connected in the cooling water supply connection 56. The valve 61 is constructed with a reduced portion 63 which is moved in and out of registry with the openings in the cooling water supply connection in order to vary the flow of coolin water. "The valve 61 is arranged to control the supply of cooling water in accordance with the temperatures of the condenser and of the driving motor. Should either the condenser or the motor obtain a temperature greater than a predetermined value, the valve opening will be increased. In order to accomplish this result, I provide a temperature-responsive mechanism .comprising two sylphon bellows 64 and 65 connected to operate levers 66 and 67 respectively, which are pivoted to stationary-members 68 and 69 respectively. The levers 66 and 67 are provided with upturned portions 70 and 71 which engage a disk '72 secured on a stem 73 of the valve 61. The valve 61 is pressed against thelevers 66 and 6'7 by a spring 74 arranged within the valve cylinder 62, air vents '75 being provided to permit pas- I sage of air into and out of the upper portion of the cylinder 62 and to allow free movement of the valve. The bellows 64 operates in response to the temperature of the motor windings, it being connected to a tube 78 which terminates in a bulb '79 secured to the core 46 of the motor 11. The bellows 65 operatesin response to the temperature of the condensed refrigerant and is provided with a tube 76 which terminates in a bulb secured by a sleeve 77 to the conduit 40 near the casing 10. Both the bellows and the tubes connected thereto are partially filled with a vaporizable liquid, and' the bellows are expanded and contracted in accordance with the temperatures of the bulbs at the ends of the conduits of the tubes 76 and '78. It is evident that the lever 67 will be moved in response to the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the condenser, and that the lever 66 will be operated in response to the temperature of the motor core. As a result, the opening of the valve 61 will be determined by whichever lever is raised to the higher position. When the valve v61 is in its lower-most position, the flow of cooling water is completely shut oil and the flow is increased as the valve is raised until it reaches a position in which the reduced portion 63 is centered with respect to the connection 56. The flow of water necessary to maintain a predetermined normal temperature of the condenser and motor is determined, and the bellows 64 and 65 are calibrated to maintain this flow when the condenser and the motor are at their predetermined normal temperatures. Should the temperature of either the motor or the condenser rise above its normal value, the bellows 64 or 65 will operate to increase the flow of cooling water.

I prefer to construct the cooling system so that during normal operation the cooling water flows down the inside of the jacket 47 and does not fill the jacket entirely, but maintains the water within the bell-shaped portion of the jacket 47 at about the level indicated at 80, which provides an efficient cooling of the dome 34.

In the operation of the refrigerating system shown in Fig. 1, refrigerant gas compressed in the cylinders 15 is discharged through the valve 32 into the chamber 33 within the dome 34, which is maintained at a predetermined relatively low temperature by the cooling water circulating around the outside thereof. The gas flows from the chamber 33 through the connection 35 to the manifold 37 and thence into the condenser tubes 36. Here the compressed gas is efllciently cooled due to the circulation of cooling water around the tubes 36 and is liquefied and flows to the manifold 38, through the connection 39 and conduit 40 to the float valve 41. When a predetermined amount of liquid refrigerant is collected in the float chamber, a float therein will rise to permit the refrigerant to flow through the conduit 42 to the header 43 of the evaporator 44. This flow is suflicient to fill the header 43 with liquid to the level indicated at 81. The evaporator 44 is located within the chamber to be cooled, and upon absorbing heat from the chamber the liquid refrigerant within the evaporator is vaporized and collects in the header 43 from which it is withdrawn through the conduit 30 by operation of the compressor.

From the foregoing, it is evident that I have provided a compact refrigerating machine having a water cooling system which provides highly efficient operation and which responds to the temperature of either the condenser or the motor to adequately cool both of them.

While I have described my invention as enibodled in a refrigerating system, other applications will readily be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and I do not desire my invention to be limited to the specific construction described, and

closed casing surrounding said condenser, means for admitting cooling water to said casing, and means including a bailie spaced from the walls of said chamber for directing a positive circulation of cooling water first over said condenser and then over the walls of. said chamber.

2. A refrigerating machine having a compressor, means including a chamber for receiving compressed gas from said compressor, a cooling system for said compressor, said cooling system including a jacket spaced from the walls of said chamber and having a vertically extending open portion, a closed casing surrounding said jacket and said vertical extension, a portion of said machine to-be cooled being arranged between said casing and said jacket, means for supplying cooling water to said casing and for inducing a positive circulation thereof over said condenser and then over the walls of said chamber, and means for withdrawing cooling water from said jacket.

3. A refrigerating machine having a compressor, means including a chamber for receiving compressed gas from said compressor, a condenser arranged to receive gas from said chamber, means for cooling said chamber and said condenser, said means including a jacket surround= ing' said chamber and having a tubular portion extending upwardly therefrom, a closed casing surrounding said condenser and said chamber, means for supplying cooling water to said casin and for inducing a positive circulation thereof over said condenser and then over said chamber, and means for withdrawing cooling water from said jacket.

4. A refrigerating machine having a compressor, a chamber for receiving compressed gas from said compressor, a jacket surrounding a portion oi the walls of said chamber and spaced therefrom, a tube connected to said jacket and extending upwardly therefrom, a closed casing tube to said jacket, and means for withdrawing cooling. water from said jacket.

5. A refrigerating machine havinga compressor, means including a chamber for receiving compressed gas discharged from said compressor, means including a condenser arranged'to receive gas discharged from said chamber for liquefying said gas, a closed casing surrounding said co'ndenser and said chamber, means for admitting cooling water to said casing, and means including a double-walled jacket 'having fa space between the walls thereof for directing a positive circulation of cooling water around said condenser and over the walls of said chamber.

6. A refrigerating machine having a compressor, means including a chamber for receiving compressed gas discharged from said compressor, a condenser arranged 'to receive gas from said chamber, means for cooling said chamber and said condenser, said means including a jacket surrounding said chamber and having a tubular portion extending upwardly therefrom, said jacket being formed with double walls spaced apart and enclosing a sealed air chamber, a closed casing surrounding said condenser and said chamber, means for supplying cooling water to said casing, and means for withdrawing cooling water from said jacket.

7. A refrigerating machine having a compressor, a chamber for receiving compressed gas dis-1 charged from said compressor, cooling water passages arranged about said compressor, a jacket surrounding a portion of the walls of said chamher and spaced therefrom, a tube connected to said jacket and extending upwardly therefrom, a closed casing surrounding said jacket and said tube, means including a condenser arranged within said casing and about said tube for condensing compressed gas discharged from said chamber, means for producing a flow of cooling water through said casing and over the walls of said tube to said jacket, and means for withdrawing cooling water from said jacket and for admitting cooling water to the passages around said compressor.

3. A refrigerating machine including a compressor, a motor for driving said compressor, a refrigerant condenser arranged to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor, and means responsive to the temperature of said condenser and to the temperature of said motor for supplying cooling water to said motor and said condenser.

9. A refrigerating machine including a compressor, a motor for driving said compressor, and a refrigerant condenser arranged to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor, a closed casing surrounding said condenser, means for supplying cooling water to said casing, means .for directing a positive circulation of said cooling sor, a chamber for receiving compressed gaseous.

refrigerant from said compressor, a jacket surrounding a portion of, the walls of said chamher and spaced therefrom, an open ended tubular portion extending upwardly from said jacket, a closed casing surrounding said jacket and said extended portion, means including a condenser arranged within said casing for liquefying gaseous refrigerant discharged from said chamber, and means responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from said condenser for admitting cooling water to said casing and for producing a positive flow of cooling water over the walls of said upwardly extending portion and through said jacket.

11. A refrigerating machine having a compressor including a closed compression casing, a'

cylinder having a discharge port arranged in the walls of said casing, means including a motor arranged within said casing for compressing gas in said cylinder, a water jacket arranged about said cylinder, means including a chamber for receiving compressed gas from said cylinder,

a jacket surrounding a portion of the walls of said chamber and having an upwardly extending open portion, means including a condenser arranged about said upwardly extending portion for liquefying compressed gas discharged from said chamber, a closed casing surrounding said condenser and said second-named jacket, and means including a valve operated in response to the temperature of said motor and to the temperature of the condensate discharge from said condenser for producing a flow of cooling water around said condenser over the walls of said upwardly extending portion and through said second-named jacket to said water jacket surrounding said cylinder.

' LEONARD W. ATCHISON. 

